Springsteen ends political retirement for Obama

“(Political) capital diminishes the more often you do it,” Springsteen told The New Yorker in a profile last summer.

But that was before President Obama’s lead began to narrow in key “Battleground” states.

After the shortest of retirements, Springsteen will be rocking the vote for President Obama later this week with appearances in two pivotal swing states.

Springsteen and Bill Clinton will appear together in Parma, Ohio, on Thursday, spurring the early vote in the Buckeye State.

Springsteen will then travel to Ames, Iowa, for an appearance at Iowa State University. Early voting is already underway in the Hawkeye State, with surveys showing that it strongly favors the Democrats.

“Springsteen’s appearances will be valuable in energizing support and getting the vote efforts in these important swing states,” said Obama campaign manager Jim Messina.

The Boss has been on the trail before.

Springsteen drew an estimated 80,000 people to a giant 2004 John Kerry rally in Madison, Wisconsin, helping Kerry eke out a victory in the state. He sang for the less-than-inspiring Democratic nominee in Detroit, St. Paul, Philadelphia and Columbus.

Springsteen was an early Obama supporter in 2008, and joined the candidate for a huge late-campaign Ohio rally.

Obama has clung to a small lead in Ohio and Iowa. Ohio is a must-win for Obama, but also for Mitt Romney. No Republican has even won the White House without carrying Ohio.